Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Colubridae
- Genus: Oligodon
- Species: O. woodmasoni
- Authority: (Günther, 1864) – the original description is attributed to Albert Günther; some sources list the year as 1868.
Common name
Wood‑Mason’s kukri snake
Description
Oligodon woodmasoni is a small to medium‑sized colubrid snake. Adult total length typically ranges from 30 cm to 45 cm. The species possesses the characteristic “kukri‑shaped” posterior maxillary teeth of the genus, adapted for slicing egg shells. Dorsal coloration is generally brown or olive‑grey with a series of dark, irregular cross‑bands or blotches; the ventral surface is lighter, often whitish or yellowish. Precise patterning and coloration may vary among individuals across its range.
Distribution and habitat
The species is known from parts of South‑East Asia, primarily:
- Northeastern India (especially Assam and Arunachal Pradesh)
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Possibly adjacent regions of Bangladesh and Thailand, though records from these areas are limited.
O. woodmasoni inhabits forested environments, including both primary and secondary tropical moist forests. It is frequently encountered in leaf litter, under logs, and in soft soil, indicating a terrestrial and fossorial lifestyle.
Ecology and behavior
- Diet: Like other members of the genus, O. woodmasoni is primarily oophagous, feeding on the eggs of other reptiles and amphibians. It may also consume small vertebrates and invertebrates when available.
- Activity pattern: Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, emerging from refugia to forage.
- Reproduction: Oviparous; females lay a clutch of 3–7 eggs, which are deposited in concealed, humid microhabitats. Specific details on breeding season and incubation period are not well documented.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not assessed Oligodon woodmasoni as a separate species, and consequently a formal global threat category is lacking. Regional assessments often list the species as “Data Deficient” due to limited field studies, but it is not currently known to be under immediate threat. Habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion may impact local populations.
Etymology
The specific epithet woodmasoni honors Colonel James Wood‑Mason (1842–1892), a British naturalist and military officer who collected specimens in India and contributed to the study of Indian herpetofauna.
Notes on taxonomy
The taxonomic placement of O. woodmasoni within the genus Oligodon is stable, but some older literature may have referred to it under different synonyms. Molecular phylogenetic studies of the genus have not yet resolved the precise relationships of this species to closely related taxa.
References
- Günther, A. (1864). The Reptiles of British India. London: Taylor and Francis.
- The Reptile Database (www.reptile-database.org). Entry for Oligodon woodmasoni.
- IUCN Red List (www.iucnredlist.org). Data Deficient assessments for related Oligodon species.
All information presented reflects the current state of scientific knowledge as of the latest accessible publications. Where data are sparse or conflicting, the entry notes the uncertainty.
